Stretcher for uniform cap covers



Jan. 11, 1938.

R. H. LAKE STRETCHER FOR UNIFORM CAP COVERS Filed Oct. 10, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l k r-L Jan.11,193s. RHLAKE 2,105,047

STRETCHER FOR UNIFORM CAP COVERS Filed Oct. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Jan. 11, 1938 .UITED STATES PATENT OFFECE STRETCHER FOR UNIFORMCAP COVERS Robert H. Lake, Takoma Park, Md.

Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,107

7 6 Claims. This invention relates to means for stretching to shape andholding in shape articles requiring such treatment, and has particularreference to improvements in means especially intended for shaping andholding uniform cap covers while the same are being washed and duringdrying 7 object of the present invention is to provide a cap coverstretching and holding means which is collapsible so that it may readilybe inserted into a cap cover, and which, when inserted, is readilyexpansible to effect stretching and shaping of both the band portion andthe crown or hell portion of the cap cover.

Cap covers are, of course, made in different sizes to fit caps ofdifferent sizes, and in this connection another important object of theinvention is to provide a cap cover stretching and holding means whichmay readily be adjusted so that when it is fully expanded it may be anyone of. a number of different sizes corresponding to any one of a numberof different cap sizes, whereby cap covers of different sizes may bestretched the exact amounts required to fit caps of difierent sizes.

In stretching and holding a cap cover it is important that thestretching and holding means shall be effective to hold the coveragainst twisting, as otherwise the cover, when dry may not properly fitthe cap on which it is used. Accordingly, another important object ofthe invention is to provide a cap cover stretching and holding meansembodying a construction whereby it is effective to hold a cap coverstretched thereon not only against twisting but in all other respectsproperly shaped.

It also is important in stretching and holding a cap cover that the bandand crown of the cover be supported in proportion throughout theirlength against sagging, as otherwise the cap may not be smooththroughout when it dries and difficulties may be experienced instretching the cover to exact predetermined size. Accordingly, anotherimportant object of the invention is to provide a cap cover stretchingand holding means which not only is adjustable-as to size in itsexpanded condition, but which, regardless of its adjustmentas to size,is effective to support against sagging, throughout its length, the bandof a cap cover stretched thereon.

Further, the invention has in view to provide a cap cover stretching andholding means which is of simple, inexpensive construction, which iseasy to insert into and expand within a cap cover, which is equally easyto collapse and remove from a cap cover without distorting the latter,and which, generally speaking, is thoroughly practical and thoroughlyreliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become morefully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, thesame consists in the novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts in related views:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cap cover stretching and holdingmeans constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment and shownin operative position within a cap cover.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing a collapsed condition of thestretcher shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View showing a further collapsed condition of thestretcher shown in Fig. l to facilitate insertion and removal of thesame into and from a cap cover.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the stretcher as shown inFig. 1; and

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,respectively, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to drawings in detail, first with particular reference to theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, it will beobserved that the present device comprises a pair of segmental shells I0 and H of nearly semicircular shape as viewed in plan, formed in anysuitable manner from any suitable material such, for example, asrustless sheet metal, and conforming in cross sectional shape andcurvature as viewed in plan to the normal cross section shape andcurvature as viewed in plan of the front and rear portions of a capcover in which they are respectively designed to fit. In other words,each section 18 and H comprises in the present instance a collar portionH of a height and of a curvature as viewed in plan substantiallycorresponding to the height and the normal curvature as viewed in planof the front or rear band portion, as the case may be, of a cap cover itis designed to fit, and a crown or bell portion i3 forming an upward andoutward continuation of the collar portion I2 and also conforming incross sectional shape and in curvature as viewed in plan to the normalcross sectional shape and curvature as viewed in plan of the front orrear crown or bell portion, as the case may be, of a cap cover it isdesigned to fit, so that when the sections lii and H are placed within acap cover at opposite ends thereof and are moved apart, normal shape isimparted to the cap cover.

For stiffening and maintaining the shape of the collar portions l2 ofthe sections ill and II said collar portions preferably are provided attheir bottoms with inwardly directed flanges it. Similarly, in order tostiffen and maintain the shape of the crown or bell portions 23 of saidsections l6 and ii, and, in addition, to provide rounded edges and capcover top portion supports at the tops of said portions E3, the samepreferably are provided at their tops with inwardly directed flanges l5.

To each side portion of the collar portion E2 of one of the sections itor H, at the inner side thereof, and suitably spaced inwardly from therelated free end of said collar portion, is suitably hinged, asindicated at it, one end of a link element H which is of no greaterlength than the distance between its hinged end and the adjacent end ofthe collar portion i2 and which preferably is of substantially the sameheight as said collar portion. Conveniently and practicably these linkelements, one at each side of the collar portion l2, may be formed fromstiif Wire bent into rectangular shape as shown, but, of course, theymay be formed from sheet metal or they may be of any other suitableform.

To the free end of each of the link elements H is hinged in any suitablemanner, as indicated at E8, one end of a companion link element l9 whichis formed from suitable sheet material and which preferably is of aheight conforming as nearly as practicable to the height of the collarportions l2. At its free end each link element I9 is provided with apair of outwardly or otherwise suitably directed tongues 2t, oneadjacent to the upper edge and the other adjacent to the lower edgethereof, while formed in the collar portion i2 of the other section itor H, as the case may be, adjacent to each end of said collar portionand at points preferably spaced apart circumferentially thereof byamounts corresponding to the difference in cap cover sizes, is anydesired plurality of pairs of slits 2! arranged to be selectivelyengaged by the tongues 29. Thus, by first inserting the sections ill andH into a cap cover and properly arranging said sections within the frontand rear portions of the cover, and by then engaging the tongues 20 atthe free ends of the link elements i9 in proper pairs of the slits 2i,depending upon the size of the cap cover to be stretched, while the linkelements ii and it are disposed in obtuse angular relationship as shownin Fig. 2, all that is necessary to effect expansion of the stretcherand stretching of the cap cover thereon is to exert outward pressureagainst the hinged together ends of the link elements H and it. In thisconnection it will be noted that when the tongues 28) are engaged in theslits 2i the link elements ill and 88 provide toggle connections betweenthe sections ill and H so that only relatively slight outward pressureagainst the hinged together ends of said link elements is required toeffect a forceful separation of said sections l9 and H and consequenteifective stretching of a cap cover engaged on said sections. Also, itwill be noted in this connection that the link elements ll and 58, asviewed in plan, are curved corresponding to the curvature of the collarportions l2 of the sections Iii and H and that, therefore, when saidlink elements are pressed outwardly until they lie against said collarportions E2 the hinged connections between their adjacent ends lieoutwardly of straight lines drawn between their points of connectionwith the collar portions of the sections it and II, thereby locking saidsections against relative inward movement until one or the other of thetoggles is broken.

Of course, instead of providing pairs of tongues 26 on the free ends ofthe link elements l3 and corresponding pairs of slits 2i to receive suchtongues, each link element 58 may be provided at its free end with onlya single tongueof any desired height and single slits 2i may be providedto receive such tongues. In fact, any desired readily separableconnections may be provided in lieu of the tongues 20 and the slits 2i.Preferably, however, the dual tongue and slit arrangement shown is usedbecause the slits 28 do not noticeably weaken the collar portion l2 inwhich they are provided and because t -e tongues 25! adjacent to thetopand bottom edges of the link elements 58, when engaged in the slits2i, serve effectively to prevent any twisting of said link elements l8relative to the collar portion l2 having the slits therein. In thisconnection. and as will further be noted, due to the material height ofthe link elements ll and l8, said link elements cooperate with eachother and with the collar portions 92 of the sections l6 and lleffectively to prevent any relative twisting of said sections when theyare held relatively expanded by said link elements. Furthermore, and aswill further be noted, the link elements l8 span the spaces between theends of the collar portions I2 of the sections ii] and H when saidsections are held relatively expanded and constitute, in effect,continuations'of said collar portions, at the points Where otherwisespaces would exist between the ends of said collar portions, therebyeffectively preventing any inward sagging at said points of a cap coverband stretched on the device.

When the device is not in use the sections it and II thereof may benested one within the other as illustrated in Fig. 3 so as to occupyonly a minimum amount of space for storage or other purposes; also, saidsections may be nested as illustrated for facility in inserting the sameinto and in removing them from a cap cover. Moreover, and as isapparent, it is not necessary that the tongues IQ of the respective linkelements it be engaged in corresponding slits at opposite sides of thecollar portion 52 having said slits. On the contrary, the tongues of oneof the link elements may be engaged in any selected slits adjacent toone end of the collar portion l2 having said slits and the tongues ofthe other link element 18 may be engaged in any selected slits adjacentto the other end of said collar portion. In this way, and by theprovision of only a small number of slits adjacent to each end of thecollar portion l2 having said slits, the device may be adjusted to fitpractically any size cap cover within a relatively wide range of sizes.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5to 8, it will be observed that the combination of elements is generallythe same as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, but that a different form oftoggle means is provided for connecting and relatively expanding thebasic sections of the device. In Figs'. 5 to 8 the basic sections aredesignated as Ili ll and, as in the case of the Figs. 1 to 4 embodimentof the invention, each section includes a collar portion, designated asi2 and a crown or bell portion, designated as 13 To one of the sideportions of the collar portion [2 of one of the sections It] or H at theinner side of said collar portion, is suitably hinged, as indicated at[6 one end of a link element H and to an intermediate portion of saidlink element is suitably hinged, as indicated at I9 one end of a secondlink element which is designated as W and which is provided at its freeend with tongues 20 to be engaged in any selected pairs of openings 2 lprovided at circumferentially spaced points in the related end portionof the collar portion I2 of the other section w or I l as the case maybe.

To the other side portion of the collar portion 12 of the same sectionill or H that carries the links Il w at the inner side thereof, issuitably hinged, as indicated at 22, one end of a link element 23 which,at its other end is pro- 7 vided with a pair of tongues 24 to be engagedin any selected pair of a plurality of pairs of openings 25 formed atcircumferentially spaced points in the related end portion of the collarportion l2 of the other form W or H as the case may be.

The link elements W [B preferably are formed of wire as shown, althougheither or both of the same may be formed from sheet metal or any othersuitable material. As shown, the free ends of the link w preferably arebridged by a strip 26 which not only braces the ends of the link butalso serves as a stop for preventing the ends from passing completelythrough the openings 2 l when initially engaging said ends in saidopenings. The link elements Il 18 function in the same way and toaccomplish the same purposes as the link elements 11 and [8 of the Figs.1 to 4 embodiment of the invention, but, as distinguished from the Figs.1 to 4 embodiment of the invention, the outer or free end portion of thelink element Il constitutes a handle to facilitate closing andopening ofthe toggle comprised by the respective link elements H Ill and only asingle toggle is employed, the link 23 constituting merely a separable,adjustable connection between adjacent end portions of the collarportions I2 of the forms at one side of the stretcher. In this latterconnection it will be understood, of course, that according to the Figs.1 to 4 embodiment of the invention only a single toggle may be providedat one side of the stretcher and that a link similar to the link 23, orany other suitable means, may be provided to separably, adjustablyconnect the forms together at the other side of the stretcher.

I claim:

1. A stretcher for cap covers and the like comprising a pair ofsegmental forms each including a collar portion, a pair of linksconstituting a toggle connection between related end portions of thecollar portions of the respective forms, a separable connection betweenone of said links and the collar portion of the related form adjustablecircumferentially of said collar portion, and a separable connectionbetween the other related end portions of the collar portions of therespective forms adjustable circumferentially of one of said collarportions.

2. A stretcher for cap covers and the like comprising a pair ofsegmental forms each including a collar portion, and a pair of linksconstituting a toggle connection between each two adjacent end portionsof the collar portions of said forms, one link of each pair spanning thespace between the related end portions of the collar portions of therespective forms and constituting in effect a continuation of saidcollar portions across said space when the toggles have a status holdingthe forms relatively expanded.

3. A stretcher for cap covers and the like comprising a pair ofsegmental forms each including a collar portion, a pair of linksconstituting a toggle connection between each two adjacent end portionsof the collar portions of said forms, one link of each pair having atongue at one end, and the end portions of the collar portion of therelated form each having a plurality of openings spaced apartcircumferentially of said collar portion to selectively receive saidtongues, thereby to provide for adjusting the Stretcher as to effectivesize when the forms are fully expanded relative to each other by saidtoggle connections.

4. A stretcher for cap covers and the like comprising a pair ofsegmental forms each including a collar portion, and a pair of linksconstituting a toggle connection between each two adjacent end portionsof the collar portions of said forms, one end of one link of each pairbeing connected with the other link of the same pair at a pointintermediate the ends of the latter link, whereby the free end portionof the latter link constitutes a handle for manipulating the toggle.

5. A stretcher for cap covers and the like comprising a pair of nestingsegmental sections each having band and crown engaging portions, and afoldable expanding device connecting adjacent ends of the separatesegments and having a permanent connection with one segment and adetachable connection with the other segment, said expanding device asan entirety being foldable into the segment to which it is permanentlyconnected whereby such segment may be nested into the other segment.

6. A stretcher for cap covers and the like comprising a pair ofsegmental forms each including a collar portion, a pair of linksconstituting a toggle connection between related end portions of thecollar portions of the respective forms, and a connection between theother related end por tions of the collar portions of the respectiveforms, the said connections between the forms lying against the collarportions thereof and constituting in effect continuations thereofspanning the spaces therebetween when the forms are held relativelyexpanded by said connections.

ROBERT H. LAKE.

